Holder for pressure-fluid-operated tools



Sept. 24, 1929. H SHAFF HOLDER FOR PRESSURE FLUID OPERATED TOOLS Filed May 11, v 1925 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST I'I. SHAFF, OF GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. KELLER, INC., F GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN, AGORPOIRATION OF MICHIGAN HOLDER FOR PRESSURE-FLUID-OPERATED TOOLS Application filed May 11, 1925. Serial No. 29,645.

J My invention relates to a holder for pres- Fig. 2 is a view showing in elevation a iii) section.

sure fluid operated tools and more particucomplete hammer and holder in operative larly to a pressure fluid actuated holder for relation to a piece of work. I portable tools of that character. Flg. 3 is a sectional view in the plane of 5 The general object of my invention is to line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction 55 provide a pressure fluid operated holder of the arrows. adapted to engage a portable pressure fluid While my invention is susceptible of many operated tool and also adapted to attach itdltierent forms, I have selected for purposes self to the work and thereby hold the tool in of illustration and description the preferred its operating position. embodiment shown herein, with the under- Another object of my invention is to prostanding that the present embodiment is vide a holder for portable pressure fluid merely for purposes of exemplification and operated 001s which may be readily and that I do not Wish t0 limit the scope of the quickly attached to and detached from the lIlvention Other than as indicated by the work. appended claims.

A th bj t i t id a h ld Referring to the accompanying drawings, which is adapted to attach itself to fiat surmy lnvcntion in the exemplary form is faces, whether horizontal, vertical or of any hown engaging a pressure fluid operated tool inclination, 1 commonly referred to as a pneumatic 20 A furth bj t i m ro id h ld r riveting hammer. As illustrated in Fig. 2,

which ill n ge a 1 nd hi h is a this pneumatic hammer comprises the usual tuated by pressure fluid to attach itself to arrel 2, head 3 and handle 4 and has suitfiat surfaces, and Whichwill permit relaable internal mechanism (not shown) for tive movement between the tool and the ating a rivet set 5. A hose connection taching surface to feed the tool toward the Such as 6 is PTOViClGd to Conduct Pressure -f fluid to the tool from any suitable source Another object is to provide a holder for (I101? h WI1)- The flow of pressure fluid such tools which has power means for feedmay be regulated by a valve (not shown) in ing the tool toward the work piece. the handle 4:, said valve being operable by 30 In pursuance of the foregoing objects my meansof a lever 7 The hammer is shown invention aims to provide a holder having POSltiOIl t0 Set a rivet S which been simple means to engage a tool, a suction reinserted iI1 holes through w pp g sponsive member adapted to contact the boiler plates 9 and 10.

work, mechanism connecting the suction re- R rring now to Fig. 1 in which the pressponsive memb r and the nga i g means entembodiment of my invention is shown in in slidable relation to permit the tool t detail, a suction ring or cup 11 of rubber or be fed toward the work, and self contained er Sui ab e material has attached to its means adapted to utilize pressure fluid to upper d pen end 12, a casing Or cylinder exhaust said suction responsive member and 1 said cylinder being herein shown attached 40 cause it to adhere to the work. by means of a backing ring 14 and screws 15.

O her objects and advantages will become The top of the cylinder 13 is provided with a apparent from the following detailed desuitable closure such as a cap 16 having an scription taken in connection with the acfll b the Said p being herein ShOWII companying drawings, in which as screw threaded to thecylinder wall.

45 Figure 1 is a view showing one form of Within the cylinder 13 is slidably posimy invention in central vertical section, entioned a piston 18 secured to oneend of a gaging a pressure fluid operated riveting tubular piston rod 19 which extends through hammer,shown in part, and holding it in opthe bore 17 and above the cap 16. The piston erating position. on a boiler plate, shown in 18 is normally retained in a position most 1 remote from the suction cup 11 by means such as an expansible spring bearing against the under side of the piston 18 and a lower inturned edge of the cylinder 13, said spring being of sufficient strength to maintain the piston in said normal position even if the tool and holder are inverted. When the cup 11 is positioned on a work plate such as 10 a suction chamber is formed within the cup 11 and the cylinder 13 below the piston 18. A

Thus it will be apparent that suction created within the chamber 25 will tend to move the piston 18 toward the work piece 10.

Attached to the upper end of the tubular piston rod 19 is a member 21 forming a head at 22 for the piston rod and shaped to form a convenient handle 23. Any suitable means such as a sleeve 24. secured to the member 21 and adapted to engage the tool 1 slidably maybe employed to hold the tool.

' A feed movement of the tool relative to the work is thereby provided equal in length to the stroke of" the piston 18. Having the piston and the tool retained normally in a position most remote from the suction cup 11 increases the ease with which the holder may be manipulated by providing a slightly rigid connection between the piston and cylinder.

I will now describe the means I provide to exhaust the suction cup, 11 to cause it to adhereto the work'plate 10 and thereby hold the engaged tool 1 in its operating position. The means employed are adapted to utilize the ejector method of obtaining a partial vacuum in a chamber by passing a stream of pressure fluid across an opening which communicates with, that chamber.

Herein this means is illustrated as comprising a nozzle member 26 positioned with its discharge end 27 central in a passageway'28 communicating with the atmosphere as at 29, and a duct 30 leading from a point in the passageway 28 immediately behindthe plane of the mouth of the nozzle member 26, to the bore 31 of the tubular piston rod 19. Commu nication is thereby established between the suction chamber 25 and an annular opening 32 formed between the nozzle member '26 and the wall of the passageway 28. Upon ejecting pressure fluid from the nozzle member 26 through the passageway 28, a partial vacuum is created in the annular opening 32 surrounding the nozzle member 26 and thereby partial exhaustion of the suction chamber 25 below the piston 18 is obtained.

To provide a supply of pressure fluid for ejectment throughthe nozzle member 26 I provide a chamber 33 within the member 21 and a flexible tube 34 connecting a duct 35 leading from the lower part of said chamber, with the pressure fluid supply hose 6 of the tool 1. A restricted portion 36 of the chamber 33 communicates with the intake end of the nozzle member 26 and is normally closed to the pressure fluid in the lower portion of the chamber 33 by means such as a ball valve 37. Said valve is preferably held in effective engagement with a seat 38 surrounding the entrance to the restricted portion 36 of the chamber 33, by suitable means such as a spring 39. To operate the ball valve 37 to admit pressure fluid from the chamber 33 to the nozzle member 26 I provide a vertical valve stem 40 slidably positioned in a bore 41 in the member 21, said stein being so positioned that its upper end is adjacent the handle 23.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be readily seen that the handle 4 of the tool 1 with its valve lever 7 and the handle 23 of the holder with its valve stem l0 arewell adapted to permit of convenient manipulation and operation of the tool and holder by an operator. For instance, by grasping the handle 1 of the tool in his right hand and the handle 23' of the holder in. his left hand, an operator may easily guide the tool 1 and holder to the desired position so that the suction cup contacts the work plate and the rivet set is above a rivet. Then, by depressing the stem- 10 with his left thumb (assuming asupply of pressure fluid is in the supply hose) the operator would open the holder valve 37 and admit pressure fluid to .cause exhaustion of the suction cup 11 and thereby cause the suction cup to adhere to the work plate; and by depressing the lever 7 with his right thumb, he would permit pressure fluid to flow to the tool 1 to actuate it. The tool is thereby held in the desired position temporarily, or as long as the stem 40 is depressed.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have invented a holder for a portable pressure fluid operated tool which is adapted to be readily attached to a work plate to hold the tool in its operating position, whereby pressure fiuid is utilized to hold the tool in that position as well as to actuate the tool.

I claim as my invention:

1. A holder for portable pressure fluid operated tools having, in combination, a suction cup, engaging means adapted to engage a tool to be held, a handle, a cylinder carried by said suction cup and in com1nunication therewith, a piston carried'by said engaging member and slidable in said cylinder, resilient means to normally maintain saidpiston in a position most remote from said suction cup, a nozzle member mounted on said engaging means, said engaging means having a duct establishing communication between a point adjacent the dischargeend of said nozzle member and said suction cup, said nozzle member being adapted to direct a stream of pressure fluid across the end of said duct, and a valve adapted to control the intake end of said nozzle memher and provided with a valve stem operable from adjacent said handle.

2. A holder for portable pressure fluid operated tools having, in combination, a suction responsive member, engaging means adapted to engage a tool to be held, a cylinder carried by said suction responsive member and in communication therewith, a piston carried by said engaging means and slidable in said cylinder, a nozzle member mounted in said engaging means, said engaging means having a duct establishing communication between a point adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle member and said suction responsive member, and said nozzle member being adapted to direct a stream of pressure fluid across the end of said duct, and a valve adapted to control the intake end of said nozzle member.

8. A holder for portable pressure fluid operated tools having, in combination, a suction responsive member, engaging means adapted to engage a tool to be held, a cylinder carried by said suction responsive member and in communication therewith, a piston carried by said engaging means and slidable in said cylinder, and self-contained means operable by a gaseous pressure fluid to exhaust said suction responsive member.

4. A holder for portable pressure fluid operated tools comprising, in combination,

suction responsive means operable to attach said holder to a work piece, a tool engaging member, means for exhausting said suction responsible means, and a member connected to said tool engaging member and associated with said suction responsive means so as to be moved by suction created within said last mentioned means.

5. A holder for pressure fluid operated tools comprising, in combination, a suction cup having an open end adapted to be placed against a Work piece, a movable wall in said cup opposite said open end, a tool engaging member connected to said Wall for movement thereby, and means for creating suction in said cup whereby to attach said cup to a work piece and to move said wall to feed a tool held by said engaging member toward the workpiece.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

ERNEST H. SHAFF. 

